Distillation apparatus



May 22,1928.

J. SCHNEIBLE I DIS'iILLATION APPARATUS I Filed Nov; 12, 1923 4 she-tssheet 1 n m M an M w 0 M a a a. m E w M 6 n W6 6 W 5 P a #m w aununnzuun w n; a .m H L 0 S F w a 6 a w a T. 7 W m7 J A m 5 0 7 V m Uh uw i w l i i W m v 2 5 www. 6 6

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J. SCHNEIBLE DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed Nqv. 12, 1923 4 Sheets-SheetEUZUEEEEUB EDDJEHUEDDUU 0 E J 6 Z w M u v PM in NM m M w v. w

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J. SCHNEIBLE DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed NOV- 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented May 22, 192 8.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; BEATRICE SCHNEIBLE INGRAM.ADMIN- ISTRATRIX OF SAID JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO CLAUDED. SCHNEIBLE, K. F. SCHREIER, AND BENJAMIN B. SCHNEIDER, TRUSTEES UNDERTHE NAME OF THE SCHNEIBLE TRUST. 3

ms'rnta'non arrana'rus.

Application filed November 12, 1923. Serial No. 674,285.

The present invention relates ,to improvements in the art ofdistillation, and more particularly to distillations in which thedistillation and rectification processes are carried out in a singleunitary column device. It will be more fully understood from thefollowin description, illustrated in the accompanyin'g drawings, inwhich: c

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a. preferred form of construction ofthe units making up the stripping and condenser portions of the column;7

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a condenser unit on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2; I v

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through a stripping unit on theline 4-4: of Fig. 2;,-

Fi 5 is a sectional view through a collecting and discharge cock; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modilied and somewhat simplifiedform of condenser section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates acolumn made.

up of superimposed units, of which the lowermost'is a heater unit,designatedby the numeral 11, to which steam is supplied through the pipe12 controlled by'valve 13.

A preferred construction of theheater unit is shown in my, co-pendingapplication Serial No. 674,287 filed of even date here with. Above theheater unit 11 are superimposed a number of distilling units 14 andstrippingunits 15 of similar construction, those higher in the columnbeing preferably shorter in height than the lower ones to compensate forthe diminution in volume'of the vapors. At an intermediate point in thecolumn, the material to be distilled is fed in through a valved pipe 16,the point of admission preferably corresponding approximately to thatpointin the column at which the reflux has a composition the same.

as that of the infed material. Above the distilling and stripping unitsare mounted the condensing and rectifying units 17. A suitable coolingmcdlum, which may be, for

example, water or brine, i's'fed into the *uppermost of thecondenser'units 17 through 433,376, file'd Dec. 27, 1920, the sectionsof.

the various units forming the column are so constructed as to permit asubstantially free passage of the vapors and reflux therethrough, and toimpart a positive rotary motion to the vapors and reflux, therebyeffecting a very complete heat interchange between them.

In my preferred form of constructiom'the several units are made up withcircular walls terminating in flanges 22 of generally tri-' angularcross section and having shoulders 23 into which the lower end of thewall of l the next section above fits.-. This construction ismore fullyset forth in my Patent No. 1,366,955 granted Feb. 1, 1921.

Each of the units, 14 and 15 making up the distilling and strippingsections is provided internally with an annular shelfor baflle 25 havinga slight downward pitch and extending from the wall to a centralcircular opening 26. From this opening a cy-.

lindrical skirt 27 extends downwardly, and this skirt is provided aroundits entire circumference with large openings 28, the skirt being formedat these openings to provide inwardly directed vanes 29 resembling thevanes of a turbine rotor. Above the ring 25 in each unit is provided adeflector 30, preferably of conical form with a slight downwardpitch'and having its apex substantially at the center of the unit. Thedeflector 30 extends outwardly, leaving a vapor passage between it andthe interior wall of the unit. From the outer margin of the deflector 30a cylindrical skirt 31 extends downwardly nearly to the upper surface ofthe annular ring 25 and is supported on the latter. The skirt 31 isprovided with openings 32 and is also provided at these openings withvanes 33 extending outwardly from its circumference. These vanes alsoresemble the vanes of a turbine rotor. It

given a positive rotary movement by the vanes 29 and 32. It will'benoted from the drawings that some of the units are deeper than others,and that varying numbers of openings and vanes are provided-therein. Inview of the similarity in structure, these units of varying size have.not been separately described, the differences in size being due to thevarying volumes of vapors to be acted upon in the different parts of thecolumn.

; Atw asuitable point in the column, a section is interposed, -intowhich the material to be distilled is brought through pi 16. This pi eis provided approximatey centrally wit in the column with a downwardlydirected portion 16?, through which the material to be distilledisdlschar ed substantially above the center of tlPe de ector 30 ofthe-next lqwer section. 1

Above the stripping section of the still ,there are provided a suitablenumber of condenser unlts, each of which may be, as shown "in Fig. 2,constructed in two parts,- a.col-

lector unit 36 and a superimposed cooling unit 37. In each of thecooling units 37 there .is mounted a plurality of coils 38, opening at.one' end at'the to of the unit into an inlet manifold 3 9, an at theother end in the lower part of the unit into an outlet manii'fold 40.These coils 38 are 'so disposed as to 7 leave an-open innercentralspace, in which is arranged a downwardly depending cylindrical skirt 41,which is secured to and depends from the inner rim of the baflle plate42 of the collecting section next above. The

- depending cylindrical skirt41 is provided with openings 43 and vanes44 directed inwardly in a. manner similar to the depending skirts 27 ofthe distilling and stripping units 14 and 15, and functioning inasimilar manner. 1

Each of the collecting units 36 is provided near its top with acollecting-deflector plate 45, having an outer ring portion 45 of con-.

ical from with a slight downward pitch and an inner inverted conicalportion 45". This inverted conical portion is of 'substantlally the"same diameter as the skirt 41 depending from the next colle ctor; unitabove, andis' directlythereunder, "seas to receive and 001- lectrefluxed liquid therefrom. The down- ",Qwa'rdly itched conical ringportion 45' is beliiw t e condenserjeoils-BSj-of the ..next

higher cooling unit, andreoeivee reflux ther from. At. its outer rim thedeflecting col- .lecting ring 45 is wardly depending s irt 46 havingopenings 47 and outwardly direc ed vanes 48 functioning in a mannersimilar 'to the correrovided with a downsponding partsoi the skirts 31depending from the deflectors 30 of the stripping and distilling units.The depending skirt 46 ex tends substantially to the baflle ring 42,which extends from the wall of the section toward the interior ofthestill. A marginal ring port-ion 42 of this bafile ring is substantiallylevel and without itch and the inner ring portion 42 has a ownwardpitch. To the inner rim of-this baflie ring the skirt 41 is secured, asalready described, except in the case of the lowermost collector umt,,which,

as shown in Fig. 2 discharges directly upon the deflector plate 30 ofthe topmost stripping unit 15.

Reflux collected in the central inverted .conical portion 45? of thedeflector-collector plates 45 isconducted through a discharge pipe 49 toa controlled discharge cock 50, the structure of which is 'bestshown in'Fig. 5 in a detailed sectional view. This cock is formed with anexternalycylindrical casing 51, suitably secured in the wallof thecollector unit 3e and opening 51 on its underside. Within t rovided witha discharge casing 51 is'rotatably fitted a cylindrical member 52provided with a'stem 53 which extends out through the stuffing box 54formed in the end of the cash; 51, the stem 53 being provided with asuite leehandle 55 for they rotation" of the internal cylindrical valvemember. The valve member 52 may projectjiiwardly for a short distanceand reflux from the conical collector '45 is supplied to it through thepipe 49.. The valve, member 52 is provided within the unit 36 with a.discharge opening 56, and it is provided'with a second discharge opening52 angularly displaced with respect to the discharge opening 51! andarranged so that, on

rotation of the valve member 52 it may be.

brought into alignment with the discharge o emn 51*. A transverse bafile57 is provlded'm the-valve member 52 beyond the opening 51. In itsnormal operating posi-- .tion, the valve member 52"is so placed that theopening 56 is directed downwardly, the 1 opening 5 2 being then sealedby thecaslng 51 and the transverse bafile 57 impeding the flow, ofliquid. Under these cond tlons, liquid entering the valve through thepipe 49 is discharged immediately through the opening 56' upon the-flatportion 42 of the baflle f-ring 42 below the valve. By rotation ofthevalve 52 until the opening 52 comesinto alignment with the dischargeopening 51, 1.11119, {opening 56 is moved to a position on of the valve,and liquid entering the to valve through the vp I I through the valvecasing 52, the d scharge ipe .49 is discharged 30- opening 51 and pipe'50. It is thus readily apparent that the valves may be employed todischarge reflux outside of the system, or may be so operated as todischarge it within the system for further action therein.

The general operation of the column will be apparent from aconsideration of Fig. 1. The material to be distilled, after passingthrough a preheater 58, in which it is heated by heat exchange with theresidue issuing from the column, passes through valved pipe 7 16 intothe unit 35 of the column, which is arranged at an intermediate pointthereof, preferably approximately where the descending refluxin thebalanced column has the composition of the infed material as regardsvolatile constituents. The infed material descends through thedistilling units 14 to the heater 11 in countercurre'nt to the risingvapors. Steam is fed into the heater through the pipe 12 and condensedwater and used steam are drawn off through the pipe 59. Residue is drawnoff through pipe 60 and forced by pump 61 to the preheater 58. .Thevapors rising in the column pass upwardly through the distilling units14, the stripping units 15 and the condenser units 17, in which bothcondensation and rectification takes place. In these various units thebailles form a circuitous vapor andreflux passage, through which theytravel without substantial obstruction. There is a collection of refluxin each of the condenser units, and reflux of the desired compositionmay be drawn off through any one of the valve discharge cocks 50,passing through the selected discharge pipes 62 and 63 to receivingboxes (34, test boxes 65 and into the receiving tank 66. Vaporsuncondensed in the column pass out from the dome 67 through the vaporline 67 -to a condenser 68, front which vapors and condensed liquidspass into receiving tank 69. From the latter a 'vapor line. 70 leads tothe vacuum pump 71, which is provided with a-suitable control valve 72for control of the vacuum produced. The cooling medium for thecondenser, which may be water or brine or any other suitable material,enters the uppermost condenser unit through pipe 18, passes from oneunit to another in succession through the pipes 19 after travelingthrough the coils in each unit, and makes its exit through the pipe 20provided with control valve 21. Temperature conditions within the columnare controlled from an intermediate point 73 (the thermal f center), thetemperature of which, when the column, one control line 74 is broughtfor the control of the valve 13 on the pipe 12 supplying steam to theheater and another control line 75 is brought for the control of thevalve 21 on the exit pipe 20 for the cooling medium from the condensers.

The column is preferably operated under vacuum, which enables theproduction, in the case of materials such as alcohol which form constantboilin -point mixtures with Water, of products of higher concentrationthan those normally procurable at atmospheric pressure. case of alcoholby operating under pressures of 75 millimeters absolute or'lower,alcohol of 198 to 199 proof may be readily secured. Pressure conditionsat various points of the column are observed by means of a number Forexample, in the of barometric indicators 76 supplied from a commonmercury reservoir and controlled by lines 77 leading to various pointsin the column. The column is preferably operated with a maximum pressuredifference from the heater to the top of the column of approximatelyone-half inch of mercury, although this may be varied, according to thecondition and nature of the material being handled, and may' in,somecases reach as high as one inch.

Within the column in the distilling and stripping sections, the vaporsare forced to travel a circuitous course by means of the bafile rings 25and deflectors 30. The vapors are thereby forced to pass through theperipheral openings in the depending skirt-s 27 and 31, the descendingreflux being in part guided downward by the skirts. The

vanes formed in these skirts givethe rising ment, acting in a manneranalogous to the vanes of a turbine rotor.' The vapors, whirled about inthis manner, break up the particles of reflux into an exceedingly tinemist, thereby providing a very large surfacefor heat interchange. As aresult of this action, a substantial heat equilibrium is maintained atall points in the column between reflux and rising vapors.

In the condenser units, the rising vapors are guided and positivelyrotated or whirled in a similar manner by the b-ifile rings 42, thecollecting-deflector plates 45 and the vanes provided in the ,perforatedskirts 41 and 46 depending respectively therefrom. In the condenserunits it will be noted, that the rising whirling vapors first contactintimately with the surfaces of the cooling coils 38 surrounding thecylindrical skirt 41 depending from .the baflle rings 42. Reflux givenup by the vapors on contact with the condenser coils drop tothedownwardly which ,the cooling and collecting pipes 19.

pitched portion of the collecting deflector ring :15 and are uided bythem in such a -manne'r as to be roken up and intimately contacted withthe rising vapors, and vaport ized portions ofthis reflux passupwardlywith the vapo's. Unvaporized portions pass downwardly and are guided bythe baffle rings 42 into the inner portion of the skirt 41 dependingtherefrom. Here the reflux is broken up and intimately contacted with.the'va ors entering through the openings 43 after aving been contactedwith the condenser coils -38. In the cylindrical space within the skirt41, unvaporized reflux is collected by the central collecting area 45 ofthe collecting-deflector plate 45. The reflux passes through ipes 49tothe discharge valve 50, by whic in operation without draw-off, it isdischarged directly upon the W horizontal portion 42 of the baflle ring42, by which it is spreadnut, and together withreflux descending fromthe condensing coils of the condenser un1t above, agaln acted u on by vaors 1n the manner already de- 25 scribed. W ere the reflux has thecomposition desired in the final product, the valve 50 is so operatedthat the reflux is discharged through one of the pipes 62 and collectedoutside of the column. It will be 30 clear from the above descriptionthat the reflux so drawn 'olf from any given section is the reflux fromthe next higher section which has been subjected to the action of thecooled vapors of the sections from which the reflux is withdrawn, but isnot intermixed with reflux resulting from the cooling ac-' tion in thelatter section.

' .In Fig. 6 there is shown in section a modified construction of thecondenser units, in ortions 'are com ined into a single unit. e unitsare designated by numeral 17. In each 4 unit is a. coolin coilconnected-with an inlet manifold 6 and an outlet manifold 5 77, the coilbeing arranged to leave a central space, in which is disposed the skirt7 8 depending'from the inner rim of a bafile ring 9 secured tothe wallof the unit. The skirt 78 is provided with openings 80 and inwardlydirected vanes 81, as in the first form of construction described. Abovethe bafile ring 79 is mounted a collectingdeflector plate 82 having acentral collectn outer downwardly" pitched deflecting portion 82disposed below its outer rim to the baflle plate 79 below'and reatsther'aupon. ;The skirt 83 is provided with open ngs 84 and outwardl'"directed vanes 85 at the openings, as in t e' firstdescribedconstruction; The cooling medium passes from one coil 75' to the next byFrom the center of the collecting portion 82 of the collecting-deflectorplate $2 a pipe 86 is carried to and through thefwall of the unit,terminating in a discharge cock 87;. The reflux from the next highersection, after contact with vapors cooled by the. cooling coils, collectin the collecting portion 82 of plate 82, and, if discharged cock 87 isclosed; overflows the plate and is broken up .and whirled aboutby thevapors rising through the openings in the skirt '83. Whileon the plate82 the reflux is subjected to the heating action of the vapors risinfrom below. When the discharge cock 87 s open the reflux collectedpasses to the exterior of the column.

I claim:

1. In combination, a distilling system including superimposed heating,distilling and condensing sections. providing a vapor passagetherethrough, said sections constituting a column, means for feedingliquid into the column at an intermediate point in the distillingsection, means for supplying a heat-vv ing medium-to the heatingsection,;,means for supplying a cooling medium for the condensingsection, and means adapted to be actuated by the temperature at anintermediate point in the distilling section above the point of feed offresh material, for controlling the supply supply of cooling medium.

2. In combination, a distillin s stem including superimposed heating,distilling and condensing sections providing a vapor passagetherethrough, said section's constituting a column, 'means for feedingliquid into the, column at an intermediate point in the distillingsection, means for supplying a heating medium to the heating section,means for supplying a cooling. medium to the conv of heating mediumand'the densing section, and means adapted to be' actuated by thetemperature at an intermediate point in the distilling section forcontrolling the supply of heating medium and the supply of coolingmedium.

3. A unitary column construction having superimposed heating,distilling, stripping and condensing sections, the condensing"sections-being made up of superimposed units, means in each condenserunit for collecting reflux-from the next, higher unit substantially freefrom reflux formed in the unit in. which collection is made, means forsupplying the. collected reflux to the next loner condenser unit: andcontrollable means in connection. with each condenser unit forwithdrawing the collected reflux therefrom.

Ill

4. A unitary column construction-having superimposed heating,distilling, stripping and condensing section's providmg'a vapor passagetherethrough' the condensing section being made up df superimposedunits,

each ggov ded withmeans for collecting rem the next higher unitsubstantially and means free from reflux formed in the unit in whichcollection is made, and meansfor supplying the collected reflux to thenext lower condenser unit, controllable means in connection with eachcondenser unit for withdrawing collected reflux therefrom, means forfeeding liquid into the column at an intermediate point in thedistilling section, means for supplying a'cooling. medium to thecondensing section, means for supplying a heating medium to the heatingunit, and means adapted to be vactuated by the temperature at anintermediate point in the distilling column for controlling the supplyof heating medium to the heating. section and of cooling medium to thecondensersection.

5. In a condenser, a plurality of superimposed condenser units forming aunitary construction, means in each unit for collectdelivered at eachplane from reflux delivered thereto from the cooling means above it.

I 7. In a condenser, a plurality of superimposed condenser unitsfforminga unitary contruction, means in each unit for collecting refluxdelivered by the next section above substantially free" from refluxformed in the unit in which collection is made and for contacting saidreflux with vapor before its collection, and means for dischargin thecollected reflux into the next section be ow. Y

8. In a condenser, superimposed condenser units forming aunita'ryconstruction, means in each unit for collecting reflux delivered by thenext section above substantially free from reflux formed in the unititself, and means for discharging the collected reflux into the nextsectionbelow.

'9. In a condenser construction, super imposedrunitsforming'a unitaryconstruc- "tion,' fneans in each unit for collecting reflux delivered bythe nextfs'ection above substanitself and means for discharging thecollected reflux into the next section below, said means beingcontrollable to discharge said reflux outside of the. condenser.

10. In a ondenseni-superimpgsei units forming a unitary constructionhaving a substantially free vapor passage therethrough, cooling means ineach unit, means for delivering reflux condensed by said coolin" meansin each unit to the next lower unlt and collecting it thereinsubstantially free from reflux formed in .said next lower unit, saidmeans providing for exerting the heating effect of vapors rising frombelow upon the collected reflux, and means for delivering the collectedreflux to the next lower unit.-'

' 11. In a vertical condenser unit, a baflie ring extending from thewall of the'unit inwardly through an open central space, acylindrical'skirt depending from the inner rim of said ring, peripheralopenings insaid skirt,-van es at each of said openings for impartingrotary movement to vapors pass-' ing therethrough, and cooling. coilssurrounding the cylindrical skirt and below the baflie ring.

4 12. In a vertical condenser unit, coils disposed toleave a centralspace, abaflle ring above the coils extending from the wall of the unitover the condenser coil-s, a centrally disposed plate below the coilsand having a I central collecting portion, and means for guiding refluxfrom the baflle rings to the central collecting portion of the centralplate and preventing condensate formed below said baflie rings frompassing into said collecting portion and for intimately contacting vaportherewith.

13. In a verticalcondenser construction,

a unit having a central deflector plate providin an open space betweenits outer rim and t e wall of the unit, a cylindrical skirt dependingfrom the outer rim of said deflector'plate, said cylindrical skirt beingprovided with peripheral o nings and vanes at each of said openings orimparting rotary movement to vapors passing therethrough,

and cooling coils positioned above said defiector plate.

14. In ayertica-l condenser construction, a unit havlng a centraldeflector plate, an

open space between its outer rim-andthe or wall of the unit, saiddeflector plate having a central collecting portion, a cylindrical skirtdepending from the outer rim of said deflector plate, said cylindricalskirt being provided with' peripheral openin rotarymovement to v'a orspassing therethrough, a cooling coil a ove the deflector plate, andmeans for guiding reflux from above to the central collecting portion ofthe deflector plate. Q

' 7 JOSEPH SCHNEIBLE.

' ,and. A yanes ateach of sai d openings formnparttially free fromrefliix formed in the unit mg

